A Sit Down With Kunal Singh Chhabra

From underground DJ and culture-shaper to restaurant owner & podcast host , Kunal has redefined India's creative landscape—carving his own path and crafting spaces that nurture community, innovation, and grassroots talent.

After what felt like ages trying to nail down a time, Kunal and I finally caught each other at 7 AM on the day of my brother’s wedding. I was sitting on his Williamsburg apartment stairwell so I wouldn’t wake anyone, we got to talking—and honestly, by the end, it felt like the perfect way to kick off the day.

Kunal’s  journey kicked off, like most young creatives, spinning tracks as a teenager at local events in Delhi. But it wasn’t until he moved to Bombay at 18 that he really tapped into the pulse of India’s independent music scene. “Bombay offered something different,” he says. It wasn’t about big, flashy parties. It was about the roots, the culture, and the authenticity behind the music.

Once there, Kunal linked up with OML (Only Much Louder), where he worked alongside now-big names like Divine and Ankur Tewari. He wasn’t just playing gigs; he was soaking up everything the industry had to offer—A&R, talent management, label admin. “I wanted to try everything,” Kunal recalls, “and finding the right people to work with - That was everything.”

During this time, Kunal was also watching two very different music worlds collide: the underground independent scene and the commercial club scene. That’s when it hit him—why not bring the two together? Why not take independent artists and platform them in spaces usually reserved for commercial acts? That’s how All Star Sauce was born: a way to showcase grassroots talent and introduce the mainstream to the underground. Movements like Soulection and Boiler Room were already paving the way globally, and Kunal saw a chance to make it happen locally.

From the start, All Star Sauce had one clear goal: to educate the mainstream audience about underground music culture. Kunal’s initial approach was multi-faceted, curating events and sharing music via social media links All Star Sauce became a bridge between global underground movements and the Indian audience, opening up new sonic worlds for those unfamiliar with them.

One of the collective’s breakthrough moments was the Sundowners series at Rasta Bombay in 2019. These were intimate, laid-back events that broke away from the rigid, gatekeeping culture of the city’s club scene. “I was 19 and had no clue about running events,” Kunal admits, “but I pulled it off, and it worked.” Then COVID hit, and like everything else, All Star Sauce had to adapt. 

In response to the pandemic, Kunal started the All Star Sauce Label, offering a platform to artists who struggled to find mainstream recognition. “There are so many artists who don’t have a platform,” Kunal shared, though he acknowledges that the label hasn’t released music in the past three years, but still he continues to receive a steady stream of submissions, highlighting just how much demand there is for independent music platforms.

Post-COVID, Kunal began to focus on creating physical spaces. One of his standout projects, Planet All Star Sauce, was a 10-week residency at Auro in Delhi. It blended music and fashion, bringing together emerging brands like Almost Gods with DJs to foster a crossover audience. “It was all about culture exchange,” Kunal explains, “switching between music and fashion and creating a community where they intersect.”

This natural evolution led to Kunal’s latest venture, Genre, which came to life after a casual conversation at a club. “I was curating a show at a venue called dirty good, and Sahil Marwah, restaurant owner, came up to me with the idea of starting a new space. A month later, he reached out, and that’s how Genre happened.” Genre was born out of the need for a creative space that wasn’t subject to the strict programming and gatekeeping of traditional clubs. The movement was spearheaded by a tight-knit team: Kunal, Sahil (Co-Founder & Restaurant Owner), Kunal Aman Arora (Finance), Hanisha & Jamsheed (Chefs), and Simran Jain (Marketing). Together, this core group is what made Genre what it is today.

Genre isn’t a “club” - it’s a restaurant with a record and cocktail bar. For Kunal, it was essential that everything about the space—music, design, food, and drinks—was carefully curated and aligned. “A menu isn’t just a menu,” he explains. “It’s part of the brand.” Genre offers a seamless experience, designed to foster connections and collaboration both during the day and night. Whether it’s over coffee or cocktails, it’s a space for creatives to hang out, share ideas, and exchange energy.

Wellness is also central to Genre’s mission. The space offers nutritious food and activities like running clubs and journaling sessions. For the music purists, Genre is vinyl-only, focusing on raw, unfiltered sound. “We want to promote timeless, soulful music,” Kunal explains, citing performers like Vasu Raina who have graced the space. “If you have good music, you’re welcome here. I would never say no to someone who wants to share that.”

As for the future, Kunal’s vision isn’t about big expansions. “Each project is its own passion,” he says. With Genre, the dream is simple: replicate the model elsewhere. “It’s a copy-paste idea,” he jokes. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. I just want more places like this.” 

Genre Kunal’s latest venture, a podcast called "NightCap with KSC," came to life when he decided to ditch the drinks and take a step back from the club scene. Still craving the spontaneous conversations and connections that came from those late nights out, Kunal created NightCap—a podcast that captures the same casual yet meaningful late-night talk vibe. Now, he's giving his audience (us) a front-row seat to every conversation and a look at what’s shaping culture in India.

When it comes to All Star Sauce, the approach is more fluid. “It’s always a work in progress,” Kunal explains. “The goal is to keep it fresh, to make sure it’s always reflecting what’s next in the creative industry.” Whether that’s through curating events or pushing new sounds, All Star Sauce is designed to evolve, staying ahead of trends and continuing to serve as a platform for the next generation of talent and ideas.

To keep update to date with Kunal and his many ventures follow along below 

Kunal Singh Chhabra - https://www.instagram.com/kunalschhabra/?hl=en

All Star Sauce - https://www.instagram.com/allstarsaucelive/?hl=en

Genre - https://www.instagram.com/genrejournal/?hl=en

NightCapwithKSC - https://www.instagram.com/nightcapwithksc/?hl=en